Bowling practice aid



Oct. 16, 1962 w. L. ODER 3,058,746

BOWLING PRACTICE AID Filed Oct. 14, 1960 FIG. 1 l 38 36 I i 32' 461%, FIG. 4

INVENTOR. WE/VDELL L. 0059,

tilted rates atent dice dfi dfi ld etonated @ct. l6, 19%2 The present invention relates to a practice aid for use in bowlin".

In the sport of bowling, whether tenpins or duckpins, high scores are obtainable only if the bowler has mastered the art of rolling or throwing the bowling ball at a particular pin point on the alley so as to cause it to strike the pins from a particular angle and at an exact spot relative to the standing pins. This requires that the bowler study and practice the art of rolling the bowling ball from any points behind the foul line and init' he roll of the bowling ball at a particular pin point ahead of the foul line for each combination of pins standing at the end of the alley.

An object of the present invention is to provide a practice aid for use in bowling which enables a bovler to practice and acquaint himself with all of the pin point spots on an alley from which the bowling ball should initiate its roll for each combination of standing pins remaining on the alley.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a practice aid for use in bowling which lends itself to attachment to the bowling alley with ease and facility, and one which is detached therefrom also with ease and facility.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a practice aid for use in blowing which is efficient in action, one economical to manufacture in quantity at reasonable cost, one which is readily portable, and one which is commercially feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

FiGURE 1 is a top plan view of the device of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of tle assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is another elevational view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3 and on an enlarged scale.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in whic like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In riGURES 1 to 4 inclusive, the reference numeral 20 designates a bowling alley, the alley having a gutter 24 on one side. The reference numeral 25 designates the foul line of the bowling alley. In the illustrated form of the device there is a clamp element 35 which has its one section 38' altered to provide a horizontally disposed flange 68 received in a horizontal slot provided in a base element from which rises a standard 72 having a lower ection 7 and an upper section 76 telescopically arranged with respect to the lower section 74.

'1 he upper end of the section 76 carries a bolt element 78 having a clamp fill on one end thereof and a wing nut on the other end thereof. The clamp element as adjustably carries a socket and shade assembly constituting a light beam emitting source, there being an electric lamp bulb within the shade and seated in the socket of the assembly 84, as shown in FIGURE 4, the socket being designated by the numeral $8 and the shade by the numeral 9%.

A pair of wires, as at 92 connects the socket 88 with a pair of flashlight batteries 94 mounted on the base element 76 on each side of the standard lower section '74. The provision of the batteries 94 makes the unit independent of any connection to a sourc of electricity within the bowling alley premises.

The clamp element 3o includes a screw member 44' having a hand wheel thereon for wedging the section 3-2 away from the section 33' and into gripping engagement with the walls of the gutter 24 adjacent the alley 2%.

Using the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, the spot of light from the bulb 86 is used to pinpoint a spot on the alley over which the ball must be thrown to reach a certain pin or combination of pins left on the alley.

in the above-described form of the invention, the indicator or the light beam emitted from the bulb 86 may be quickly and readily shifted to pinpoint a spot on the alley over which the bowling ball should be thrown to reach a desired pin at the other end of the alley. Further, the device of the invention is quickly and easily removed from the alley when a person not requiring the assistance of the indicator is prepared to bowl.

ffhat is claimed is:

'i he combination with a bowling alley having a pair of sides, there being a foul line extending across said lley from one side to the other side, and a gutter extending inwardly from said foul line and along one of said sides, of a practice aid comprising a support embodying a standard positioned forwardly of said foul line, adjustable clamp means on said standard and bridging said gutter and releasably engaging opposed points of the wall of said gutter for fixedly attaching said standard to said alley, and an indicator embodying a light beam emitting source sa'ingably supported from said standard and shiftable to indicate to a player and pinpoint a spot on said alley representing the starting point of a line of travel along which a bowling ball is to be projected.

References in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

